Richard Witten

Richard Whitten’s paintings are considered sculptures by some viewers. He paints illusions of space so effectively that they appear as though they are alternate realities. He paints on heavy wooden boards, constructed and cut into shapes, which reference motifs reminiscent of Dutch triptychs yet are also modern departures from rectangular formats. The architectural spaces and objects in his works create a sense of disorientation and mystery. A common motif in Whitten’s work is the cycle: orbiting planets, spinning gears, cats chasing mice, or zeppelins floating around an axis. The compositions are saturated with allegorical references and allusions. Each work is a complex composition both visually and conceptually, derived from Whitten’s own years of study, travel, and teaching.